Letter: We need to sing, act together again

I just returned from a meditation center sitting in the towering trees of our Western Washington forest. Walking through this magnificent landscape, I was struck with awe at the beauty of sunlight filtering through the trees and was reminded of a favorite hymn from childhood:

For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to thee we raise,

This our hymn of grateful praise.

I wondered, “Could we learn to sing this song again?” Could we celebrate that beauty, that glory? Could we feel that love and gratitude for our exquisite inheritance? Could we act to preserve this majesty for our great-grandchildren? Could we, together, save our earth?

After leaving this incredible place, I turned east to drive home through the mountains. Looking east, I saw smoke covering the valleys, obliterating the ridges and skies, and I realized our urgent need to act on behalf of our planet. I cried at the scale of the fire and again as I saw smoke covering the land and skies all the way home.

I pray we learn to sing, and to act, together, now.